Percolator top



Aug. 18, 1936. l.. l.. EDWARDS PERCOLATOR TOP Filed Nov. lO, 193`1 ,3 @cm/mn Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT YOFFICE 6 Claims.

Ihis invention is directed toy an improvement in percolator tops ordinarily provided as a separate element of a cover for the utensil.

The invention is directed primarily to a simple means by which the percolator top is substantially secured in either upward or downward movement with respect to the cover, with the securing means serving to hold the percolator top in proper relation to the cover while permitting convenient and easy removal of the percolator top when necessary for cleaning or renewal.

The invention contemplates as a securing means a spring band made up of a coil spring designed for extension beyond normal in applied position and cooperating in applied position with an upwardly and outwardly inclined wall of the percolator top and a rounded edge of the opening in the cover through which the percolator extends, whereby the pressure of the band serves to exert an upward pressure upon the percolator to maintain it in position against the possibility of casual displacement, while at the same time permitting, through the manual upward movement of the band, the free separation of the percolator top and cover when desired.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanydrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a cover and percolator top held in relatively cooperative position by the securing means forming part of this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the cover and percolator top, with the spring band in applied or securing position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the percolator top, parts being broken away. y

The cover of the coiee pot or other utensil with which the percolator top is intended to cooperate is indicated at I and may have a depending band 2 which frictionally iits in the upper end of the pot in the usual manner, the

cover having hinged connection with the pot or not as may be desired. The cover is formed 45 with a central opening to permit the passage therethrough of the percolator top, the marginal edge of this opening being inwardly rounded, as at 3, for a purpose which will later appear.

The percolator top proper is constructed in the usual general outline and is, of course, to be made of any desired material, though usually glass is employed for this purpose. This percolator top is formed at the lower end to provide a limiting flange 4 having a diameter exceeding the opening in the cover I so that the percolator top will not pass directly upwardly through the opening.

Immediately above the limiting flange d, the percolator top is formed with a self-centering 5 flange 5, the diameter of which approximates the diameter of the margin of the opening in the cover, so that when the flange 5 is itted within this opening, the percolator top will be centered with respect to the cover. ately above the self-centering fiange 5, the percolator top is formed with an upstanding inclined surface, the inclination of which is upwardly and outwardly relative to. the axis of the percolator top'. This inclined surface or wall 15 6 is of material height and above it the percolator top is formed with the usual inclined upper section l terminating in an undercut knob or handle portion 8.

The securing element is in the form of a coil 20 spring 9, the ends of which are preferably connected to form a band. Normally the band is of a diameter materially less than that of the surface 6, so that when the band is in applied position, as will later appear, the coil spring 25V making up the band is stretched to a considerable extent in order to present the requisite drawing or compressive action desired in the band.

With the percolator in position, the band 9 30 is forced down over the percolator top and brought into contact with the inclined wall 6. The band, by its compressive action, immediately contracts or moves to the bottom edge of this wall and bears between the wall and the 35 rounded margin 3 of the opening of the cover. The bearing of the securing member is primarily on the inclined wall 6 of the percolator, though the lower margin of the band overlies the rounded wall of the cover to form a limiting 40 position of the band when in securing relation.

Due to the downward and inward inclination of the Wall 6 of the percolator top, the tendency of the securing means is to move downwardly, seeking its normal diameter which is materially 45 less than that of the Wall 6. As the percolator top is limited in upward movement by the limiting ange 4, this downward tendency of the clamping band 9 is to compel a relative upwardv 50 movement of the percolator top and thus bind the percolator top substantially in a relation to hold the limiting flange against the bottom of the cover with the percolator top extended through the cover to the degree permitted by the cooper- 55 Immedil0 f ation of the limiting flange 4 inthe opening in the cover.

The securing band rests againstthe roundedV edge 3 of the cover opening and this, together with the centering flange 5 and the tendency of the gripping band to move the percolator top upwardly, tends to hold the percolator top in position against the possibility of casual displacement in either axial direction though substantially free for independent rotation, if desired.

When it is desired to remove the percolator top, the securing spring band is moved upwardly over the wall 6 and allowed to snap beneath the undercut knob 8 or entirely removed from the percolator top. In this position, the percolator top may be freely moved downward-in the cover and entirely separated for cleaning o-r renewal.

While preferring that they securing band 9 be in the form of an endless spring coil band, it is of course apparent that this band may be made up in'proper length with simple means by which the. ends may be connected and` connection may be made when desired to hold thepercolator top in place 'and the ends separated when it is desired to release the percolator top.

Asidefrom the details stated, the utensil cover and percolator top are to be in any desired or conventional form and either orboth may be constructed of any desired material, as such details form no material part of the present invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. VVIn combination with a utensil cover, of a percolator top for cooperation therewith from beneath, said top being formed with a wall upwardly and outwardly inclined above the cover, and a contractile band cooperating with the inclined portion of the wall immediately above the cover and serving through its in'herent contractile force in cooperation with the inclination of the wall to hold the top in `cooperative relation with the cover. Y

2. A utensil cover formed with an opening, al

' percolator top movable in one direction through the opening and having a flange to limit its movement in that direction,V the top above the flange being formed with an upwardly and outwardly inclined wall, and an endless spring band encircling the wall and serving through its contractile force and the'inclination of the wall to hold the top in positionrto maintain the flange in cooperation with the cover.

31 A utensil cover formed with an opening, a percolator top movable upwardly through the opening and having a flange to limit that movement, the top above the flange and in that portion extending above the cover being in the form of an outwardly and upwardly flaring Wall, and a band of spring coil formation encircling the wall and serving through its contractile force and the inclination of the wall to hold the top' in position to maintain the'flange in cooperation with the cover.

4. A utensil cover formed with an opening, a percolator top movable upwardly through the opening and having a flange at its lower end to bear against the under side of the top adjacent the opening, the top` being'formed immediately above the flange as an upwardly and outwardly inclined wall disposed above the cover when the flange of the top is in cooperation with Vthe cover, and a spring band encircling the top immediately labove the cover and bearing against said inclined Wall, the spring band acting through its contractile force and the inclination of the wall to tend to move the top upwardly and thereby maintain the flange in contact with the under surface of the cover.

5. A glass cap structure for closing the opening of a percolator lid, said cap structure comprising a glass cap member and a spring ring member, said cap member including a body portion and a bottom abutment portion, said body portion being adapted to be inserted into the opening of such a lid from the under side thereof and said bottom abutment portion being adapted to engage said lid from beneath or below, said spring ring member being adapted to surround the body portion of said cap member and engage said lid from above, whereby said lid is confined between said ring member and the bottom abutment portion of said cap member, said ring member being vertically adjustable relative to the body portion of said cap member, thereby enabling the space between said ring member andV the bottom abutment portion of said cap member to be varied, whereby the present cap structure can be properly assembled with percolator lids of varying dimensions.

6. A glass cap structure for closing the opening of a percolator lid, said cap structure comprising a glass cap member and a spring ring member, said cap member including a body portion and a botto-rn abutment portion, said body ortion being adapted to be inserted into the opening of such lid from the underside thereof Y and to project thereabove and said bottom abut- 

